Prosecution to close out Simpson case

September 29, 1995
Web posted at: 1:10 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (CNN)-- Soon a new voice will be heard in the Los
Angeles courtroom: that of the jury -- when it reaches a
verdict. Nine months after they began, arguments in the O.J.
Simpson murder trial will end Friday, with the prosecution
getting the last word.

Thursday, Johnnie Cochran wrapped up the defense's closing
arguments. Cochran used his last appearance before the jury
to echo the themes he laid out Wednesday: that the
prosecution "rushed to judgment" in charging Simpson with the
murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron
Goldman; that the prosecution's case "doesn't fit;" and that
key witnesses lied to the jury.

The prosecution began its rebuttal Friday. When asked
Thursday which contradictions in the defense's case the
prosecution planned to highlight in its rebuttal, prosecutor
Marcia Clark shook her head and said "Oh God, there are so
many."

Once the prosecution finishes its rebuttal, Judge Lance Ito
then needs only to give jurors his final instructions before
turning the case over to them.

If the case is turned over to the jury Friday, deliberations
would probably begin Monday.

In a news conference Friday, Los Angeles Police Chief Willie
Williams stated he was offended at the comments made in court
Thursday by the Simpson defense team and wants to hold the
entire defense team accountable. "Their actions are
deliberately making an attempt to raise fears among all walks
of like in this community," said Williams.

Williams conceded the department has problems and, said
former detective Mark Fuhrman should never have been on the
force. Williams said an extensive investigation is being
conducted of Fuhrman's career, but he said that is not the
issue at stake in the Simpson trial. Williams said the
central issue remains who killed Nicole Brown Simpson and
Ronald Goldman. "If the jury has the opportunity to wash
away some of that garbage we've heard for two days from the
defense I believe they'll make the proper decision," said
Williams. "I still believe that we arrested the right person
for the death of Nicole Simpson."

"That's what it is all about," Williams added. "He viciously
slayed these two people. My department is not on trial and
my department should never have been placed on trial."